After watching the exhibition game and the first game against Western Kentucky, I came way with the following early thoughts:
What I like:
1. Decisiveness. I've heard Sherri say multiple times already we need to make quicker decisions to overcome the lack of size. So far, so good. I love the fact we look to shoot and move the ball quickly. I think last year's team was horrible with being decisive, and it drove all of us crazy. I love everything Maddie Manning did for us, but we have freshmen making more strong-willed decisions in Game 1 than she did as a sixth year senior. I love the fact these freshmen don't have fear. Just look at Taylor Robertson! My goodness, she knows exactly what she wants to do with the basketball.
2. Shaina's willingness to shoot. The exhibition game was much better than Game 1, but it's clear she's not afraid to shoot. I hope she continues to build confidence.
3. The pace. I love the pace. I think Sherri Coale's best teams have played fast over the years, and I feel like her last few teams played like turtles. Just painfully slow. I don't know if Veitenheimer is infinitely faster than Ortiz, but she knows how to move the ball up the floor - with long passes! What a concept. It's wonderful.Especially when you add Shaina, we're flying. I think our pace will be a problem for some teams.
4. Madi Williams is going to be a superstar. I love how she plays, and she will really help fill a void in rebounding. She reminds me so much of Amanda Thompson the way she can rebound the basketball, but I think she's further along than AT was as a freshman. I love Madi's attitude, as she appears to have a little mud in her blood - which is something our program has desperately missed over the last few years.
5. Defensively, we are active with our hands. This is a very good thing because it will force a lot of turnovers and easy baskets.
6. I feel like we have multiple weapons offensively and have a much better flow than year's past. The chemistry just seems to be better. (I realize it's way too early).
What I haven't liked:
1. The turnovers against WKU were not good. We need to play smarter, especially with the lead. It seems we make a lot of turnovers trying to get the ball into the post - which isn't a good sign.
2. Post play. We have no post presence whatsoever. And that's okay offensively. I think we'll be just fine. But we need to figure out a way to defend the post and rebound. Madi will help on the rebounding front, but we could get really pounded inside this year.
3. Defense has a long way to go. We are showing flashes of being able to defend, and I think the way we play could give some teams fits, but we are young, and young teams struggle early defensively. We will lose games when we can't score early in the season.
What I like:
1. Decisiveness. I've heard Sherri say multiple times already we need to make quicker decisions to overcome the lack of size. So far, so good. I love the fact we look to shoot and move the ball quickly. I think last year's team was horrible with being decisive, and it drove all of us crazy. I love everything Maddie Manning did for us, but we have freshmen making more strong-willed decisions in Game 1 than she did as a sixth year senior. I love the fact these freshmen don't have fear. Just look at Taylor Robertson! My goodness, she knows exactly what she wants to do with the basketball.
2. Shaina's willingness to shoot. The exhibition game was much better than Game 1, but it's clear she's not afraid to shoot. I hope she continues to build confidence.
3. The pace. I love the pace. I think Sherri Coale's best teams have played fast over the years, and I feel like her last few teams played like turtles. Just painfully slow. I don't know if Veitenheimer is infinitely faster than Ortiz, but she knows how to move the ball up the floor - with long passes! What a concept. It's wonderful.Especially when you add Shaina, we're flying. I think our pace will be a problem for some teams.
4. Madi Williams is going to be a superstar. I love how she plays, and she will really help fill a void in rebounding. She reminds me so much of Amanda Thompson the way she can rebound the basketball, but I think she's further along than AT was as a freshman. I love Madi's attitude, as she appears to have a little mud in her blood - which is something our program has desperately missed over the last few years.
5. Defensively, we are active with our hands. This is a very good thing because it will force a lot of turnovers and easy baskets.
6. I feel like we have multiple weapons offensively and have a much better flow than year's past. The chemistry just seems to be better. (I realize it's way too early).
What I haven't liked:
1. The turnovers against WKU were not good. We need to play smarter, especially with the lead. It seems we make a lot of turnovers trying to get the ball into the post - which isn't a good sign.
2. Post play. We have no post presence whatsoever. And that's okay offensively. I think we'll be just fine. But we need to figure out a way to defend the post and rebound. Madi will help on the rebounding front, but we could get really pounded inside this year.
3. Defense has a long way to go. We are showing flashes of being able to defend, and I think the way we play could give some teams fits, but we are young, and young teams struggle early defensively. We will lose games when we can't score early in the season.